SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State head coach Debby Colberg has been named Big Sky Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years, it was announced by the conference today. The annual award, which is voted upon by league coaches, was given to Colberg after she led Sacramento State to a 20-9 overall record and its fifth-consecutive Big Sky regular season championship since joining the conference in 1996. Colberg also received the honor in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Colberg, who has also doubled as Sacramento State’s athletics director since 1998, owns a career record of 671-238 (.738 winning percentage) and has led the team to 12 league titles and 20 postseason berths. In 26 years as a head coach, she is currently tied for seventh all-time among active NCAA Div. I coaches in total victories and 12th in winning percentage.
Colberg is first all-time among Big Sky coaches (min. 20 wins) with an .819 winning percentage (77-17) in conference matches. A Sacramento State alumna, the 1989 AVCA National Div. II Coach of the Year has guided the team to seven-consecutive 20-win years and has just two losing seasons during her tenure with the Hornets. In addition, her fourth coaching honor tied her with Idaho’s Tom Hilbert for most awards in conference history.
This season, Sacramento State finished with a 12-2 Big Sky record while finishing second or better in the conference in hitting percentage (.226), kills (15.79 per game), assists (14.32 per game), service aces (1.63 per game) and digs (16.24 per game).
The Hornets received four player of the week honors, the Big Sky Most Valuable Player award (Tasman Dwyer), two unanimous first team all-conference selections (Dwyer and Lisa Beauchene), one second team selection (Jayme Wright), two honorable mention selections (Alison Gahr and Kazmiera Imrie) and the conference’s award for best defensive specialist (Olivia Thomas).
Sacramento State’s run of four-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, however, will come to a close this season. The NCAA announced its field of 64 teams yesterday and the Hornets, who were on the bubble to make the tournament, were not selected. Eastern Washington, which received an automatic berth into the NCAA’s after winning the Big Sky Tournament on Nov. 17, was the only member of the Big Sky selected to participate.
Sacramento State has not lost more than two matches in a row in almost four seasons (the 1998 squad opened the year with an 0-3 record). The Hornets will lose three players (seniors Kelly Voeltz, Dwyer and Gahr) heading into next season.
